temperature guarantee discounts to guests an average of once every four days since New Year's Day after getting hit by a cold snap last week.

But hoteliers are still backing the 20 percent discount scheme as a great promotional idea for tourism.

And conditions could have been worse according to weather forecasters at the US Naval Air Station.

Compared to the last ten years, January 1993 has been mild with an average high temperature so far of 71.5 degrees, three degrees above the average.

Under the scheme, hotels, and some stores, offer discounts to visitors if the temperature fails to reach 68 degrees during January or February. Until this week that happened only twice, on January 3 and 16.

But this week highs of 63, 67 and 65 were recorded on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday respectively.

Petty Officer Michelle Vandever at the Naval Oceanography Command Facility said that, despite those few days, temperatures throughout the month have been in the 70s.

She said: "It has been mainly mild, with more days above 68 than not. In fact we have had a lot of days in the 70s.'' Hotels involved in the scheme are not worried about the loss of hundreds of dollars to guests during the 20 percent discount period because they believe the scheme will help to promote the Island and encourage visitors to return in years to come.

Grotto Bay Hotel managing director Mr. George Robinson said: "It is still a good idea. It is like any new promotion, it is going to take time to come into effect.

"Anybody down here right now has been enjoying predominantly great weather.

The days they do not get good weather they get a discount.

"We have not noticed any effect yet, I think that will come next year when advertising and word-of-mouth gets back to people to tell them that Bermuda is a lot warmer than most places in the United States at the moment.

"That is the whole idea. It is a promotion to get Bermuda's name into the marketplace in a predominant and positive manner.'' Mr. Robinson's assertion that the scheme was not solely to offer a discount but is aiming to attract visitors to the Island's warm weather was proved by guests at the Hamilton Princess Hotel.

Duty manager, Mrs. Keyla Grant said: "When we explain the scheme a lot of guests say they do not want a discount, they prefer to have warmer weather.

That is why they are here.'' So far the average January high is above any recorded January average since 1981.